Research Article
Fonkwa Georges, Kouam K Marc,
Abstract
The effect of water physico-chemical characteristics on Myxobolus tilapiae loads and prevalence was investigated from May 2016 to May 2017 in 350 specimens of Oreochromis niloticus captured in MAPE dam, Adamawa region of Cameroon. The spores load and the fish condition factor were negatively correlated (r=-0.37; P<0.05). No significant (P>0.05) correlation was observed between the prevalence of Myxobolus tilapiae and water temperature, pH and nitrate concentration. However, the prevalence was significantly and positively correlated with the carbonate hardness (r= +0.14; P<0.001), and negatively correlated (r=-0.17; P<0.001) with water transparency. The optimum characteristics of water regarding transparency and carbonate hardness for reduced M. tilapiae infection and O. niloticus productivity need to be determined.